i am a mansion

prez of demeter's darlings, prez of your hearts. nature freak, greek myth nerd and reckless teen all rolled into a neat, uniquely colored package (with a little pink bow on the top and a card that guarantees it was made with recycled material).

[funeralhome420-deactivated20141]

[thunderplums]

"Would instruments be necessary? I don’t believe I’m good at the classical-types but I can surely try."

"Hallo, I’m Florence. I’m not too good with applying water and fertilizer, but I can definitely provide some good ol’ CO2."

[mansiongirl]

"Instruments are most definitely not needed. I'll put something on the radio or whatever - all you need to do is talk a little bit. Just a little. A bit of chit chat. With some plants."

"Reika. That's a unique name, Florence - like the city, huh? Italy and all that?"

[jazzabel]

[neonjungle-world]

[mansiongirl]

"In desperate need of someone to help me talk to the plants on the roof tonight. I think they've just about had enough of loneliness, they need some good ol' CO2."

"Preferably someone with decent to outstanding conversation skills. Singing would be appreciated. Though we might play a bit of classical - good for the plants, and all. Isn't that crazy? They say plants react to music. Insane."

[indianmonsoons]

Anything You Say, Can And Will Be Held Against You || India & Reika

[indianmonsoons]

India’s head fell back against the pillow, her pink hair in all different directions. Her body was relaxed for the first time in days as she just concentrated on Reika’s words and the rise and fall of her body. India giggled softly, “What kind of wine? I don’t want any of that cheap shit that you tried last night. I have a performance tomorrow and I can’t be in the can.” She turned her head to look at Rei, “Yeeeah, and I have you.” She smiled. 

"Look, at least we have each other. Our lives won’t be that miserable. But, I think if we keep surfing the market, we might find that one person who makes sex worth it… But that’s only in a perfect world, and I’m sure that I’m going to end up back in the states with fifteen cats and countless one night stands,” she joked. 

India watched as Rei kicked at the clothes, another laugh escaping her lips, “Look, if you invite me to parties and keep me from killing assholes, I promise to help you keep your room clean. And maybe just maybe join that little plant club of yours that you care so much about.” She grinned. India understood Rei’s passion, she got it. She had the passion inside of her, too. Just for something different. 

"Okay, we should get started if we want to be done by sundown," she hoisted herself up to a sitting position, a tired groan escaping her lips. "Your bed is so comfortable, no wonder you have so many takers." She giggled. 

[mansiongirl]

"Cheap shit? I'm properly offended. For starters, I didn't have fuckin' wine last night, if you were listening, I had vodka. Much stronger. Plus, I am a classy gal, you think I would treat my best friend to cheap wine? We're splurging. It's gonna be madness. We're gettin' a huge ass bottle, Inz. Huge  ass." She grinned, glancing over at her friend, her smile playful and joking. "You're performing tomorrow? I can come, right? It ain't one of those weird, restricted events, right?"

"You say that like it's a bad thing," she said, winking. "I can't imagine you with cats. Probably guitars. Guitars and music shit everywhere. You're right obsessed. I can't picture you as anything other than the crazy rock lady, killin' it in her old age and having wild sex with a different man each night." Taking a deep breath in and exhaling slowly, as if weighted down by the conversation, Reika stuck out her tongue. "Too much planning for the future, though. We oughta live in the now, y'know? Speaking of, how up are you to the idea of dropping acid?"

Reika sat up suddenly, practically falling off the bed as she did so. She was a naturally chill person, rarely ever obsessed over things. Plants, however, those were an entirely different ballpark - she loved plants, and, equally, she loved her club, Demeter's Darlings. She would love to combine her love for plants and her love for her friend, India, into one - but India was so fuckin' rude. She hated her. Actually, that was a total lie - Reika would always love India, but god fucking damn it. "Really? You'd join? Will this be the year, oh, the sacred year?"

Reika rolled her eyes, huffing as she stood up, but she still wore a smile on her face. "Yeah, just take a look at the many suitors lining up at my door - all here for the pillows, I assure you," she said, winking at her friend playfully before walking over to the pile of laundry and carelessly stuffing it all into a bag. "One load?" She paused. "Two maybe?" Another pause. "Okay, four tops, though, right?"

[cutkelvin]

[indianmonsoons]

Anything You Say, Can And Will Be Held Against You || India & Reika

[indianmonsoons]

India laughed softly, doing the same hand motion down the opposite cheek. “We are kinda drifting apart, aren’t we? Well, that’s unacceptable, and we must fix it immediately.” She smiled. “And my room is fine, everything is where I need it to be, a little messy, but… my love, your room takes the prize for messiest of rooms.” 

India shook her head, another laugh escaping, her head falling back against the pillows. “You, my dear, are the epitome of the hot mess, and you are so fucking lucky that I love you enough to touch your dirty laundry.” When Reika fell beside her in bed, India flopped over to her stomach, draping her arm around her friend’s waist. “Nah, I didn’t get his name, it wasn’t worth the trouble or the effort. He wasn’t attractive. He wasn’t worth the fighting, to be quite honest. Now, if he was hot, maybe…” 

India rolled her eyes softly, “Listen, get a few drinks in me and I’m as flexible as they come. I just prefer boys, well, not boys, men. I dunno, I wish that there were better guys here, I mean, if I have to spend most of my year here, I might as well be getting laid. Ya know?” She ran her hand through her hair, closing her eyes as she rested her head on the pillow. 

"Rei, how much dirty laundry do you have, just so I know what I’m in for?" She opened her eyes reluctantly. 

[mansiongirl]

"We should go out tonight, then, yeah?" Reika grinned maliciously, raising her brows at India. "That'll fix us right up. A little smidge of wine and a girls night out. We could picnic in the garden on the roof. Ugh, that would be so gorgeous at night, wouldn't it?" Making her best puppy dog eyes, Reika nudged India. "Aw, please, Inz, pleeeease? I want to go drink wine with the plants on the roof."

Grinning proudly, Reika shrugged. "At least I have you, love - ya' keep me less messy. I consider myself very lucky indeed. Making a disgusted face, Reika's nose scrunched up as she looked over at her friend. "Gross. HE seems like a right brat. Next time you see him, give me a tap on the shoulder, yeah? I'll deck him or something. Give him the ol' one two," she said, mimicking what she would do by punching out her fists twice. "That's always the case, though, y'know? If they were hot, though... If they were even just verging on cute or adorable... Maybe."

"I completely know, and I feel the exact same. Might as well spend your days surfing the market. This is the prime of our lives, we'll never get as much action as we're getting now." She let that thought sink for a second before speaking up again, her face suddenly sadder. "Oi, we're gonna be a bit pathetic for the rest of our lives, ain't we? Sad."

"Tons." She kicked over a small pile with the tips of her toes, still laying on the bed beside her. "We don't need to finish it all. I mean, I just need the underwear, right? Hm."

[mansiongirl]

say no to friendship, am i right || pip&reika

[piplundgren-deactivated20140915]

Pip’s eyebrows did raise at this, but they said nothing for a moment, instead choosing to gaze curiously at Reiko, a single eyebrow raised as their finger pressed down on the blender, now containing all of its ingredients. They noticed a bloom of colour in the girls cheeks and her stumbling’ they almost smiled out of endearment. Almost. However they did quickly realise that their staring would not do much to aid her, and quickly lowered their eyes in pity, not kindness. 

The blender came to a stop and the drink, purple-tinted, aromatic and glorious if they did say so themselves, was ready to be served. To avoid staring at Reiko in a moment of discomfort they decided instead to ready the serving tray. A slimline glass upon a green and brown recycled wood tray, fitting of the eco-concious aesthetic the place had going for it. “Nah, I guess ya got a point. Don’t really do much in terms of work, do I?” They even allowed themself to chuckle at this, pouring the drink carefully into the glass. “Still a great student though - pleachure to teach. I faked my report cards and faxed dem out with that on it.” 

Serving the drink with a wedge of lemon, they presented the tray at the table and gave a sarcastic bow to accompany it once served. “Go on then, drink up. Tell me if I was over stretching myself.”

[mansiongirl]

Resting her head on her hand once again, elbow propped up on the table, Reika let her hair fall sloppily in front of her eyes, a bit embarrassed. She still had a bit of pink in her cheeks, but at this point it had faded enough to be mistaken as blush, so she decided she was safe enough to tuck her hair once more behind her ear and give this who social interaction thing another go, accident-free.

Looking down at the drink they had just given her, she smiled, looking up at Pip and nodding curtly. "Good to know you can manage it well enough," she said, not quite sure how she wanted to sound saying it. She dropped, for the most part, the condescending tone she had adopted early on, focusing moreso on joking around - perhaps still nervous about her excessive blushing. She took the drink to her lips, pausing a moment before tipping it back and taking a full-on swig. A light opened up from the ceiling of the shop, revealing what Reika could only describe as the gates of heaven. A few angels came out to sing their little chorus and Reika looked at the glass as if she had just experienced the sort of life-affirming event people who go through the glories of birth have. A fuckin' rad ass drink.

With a bit of shock, Reika set the glass down and looked up at Pip, considering complimenting them. Of course, remembering they had just been holding a conversation of another topic, she thought better of changing the subject and decided to respond to what Pip had just said. What had they said? Right, grades n' stuff. "You sent in fake report cards? My mum would kill me if I had done that. How'd you manage that?"

Looking back at the drink for a moment, Reika finally decided she should speak up about it, offering a smile and a shrug. "It's a pretty nice drink, by the way. Tastes great."

[asamizdrenkadaily]

[indianmonsoons]

Anything You Say, Can And Will Be Held Against You || India & Reika

[indianmonsoons]

A laugh escaped India’s lips that were covered in pink lipstick, “You, miss, with the mixing drinks, are going to get yourself killed. But do what you want. Just keep up to your promise.” She grinned as she watched Reika apply her makeup, she, unfortunately has not gotten past the what-the-fuck-am-I-doing-stage, which is why it takes her so long to get ready in the morning. 

India laughed softly, “Yeah, on top of the world when you should be on top of this damn room. What happens if you go to a party, and then like, you find a banging boy or girl, and you bring them back to… this? They leave, you have no sex, and you’re fucked for the rest of the night, and not in the literal sense.” She moved her bangs out of her face once again, they just didn’t seem to want to stay in place today. “You really do need to do laundry, leggings, unfortunately for us, do not count as a part of the uniform.” 

She plopped back down on Reika’s bed, hearing it squeak beneath her, “I’m fine. I mean, I guess. Some stupid asshole tried to hit on me today but I wasn’t having it. It’s like, dude, I’m not a piece of meat, sit down. Go take a cold shower, do something.” She exhaled, blowing her bangs out of her face. “I hate the boys here, I hate boys in general.” She lied back down on Reika’s bed. “Can’t I just change my sexuality, isn’t there an app for that?” 

[mansiongirl]

"Yeah, yeah, at least it will be one hell of a death. Promise to take care of my plants for me," she grinned, winking playfully at her friend before taking a seat on her desk chair. She sighed, looking around for a moment. "How's your room lookin' these days? It's not nearly as trainwrecky as mine, huh?" She grinned for a second, before realizing something very suddenly. "Hold it. How have I not seen your room in such a long while? Jesus, Inz, I feel like we're drifiting apart so quick." She mocked crying by pouting and dragging her finger down her cheek.

"Fuck, that's right." Looking over at the pile of laundry, she grimaced. "How am I going to survive with no clean uniform? I'm down to my last pair of knickers." She looked over at India pleadingly, pouting and approaching her slowly as if she were the human version of a puppy dog. "Please, oh, please, would you help me out with a few loads of laundry tonight, my love? My darling, light of my life, love of my world, cute pie honey bunch, pleeeeaaassseeeee?" She rested her chin on her knuckles. "With a cherry on top?"

Reika grinned, crawling into the bed with her and laying next to her. "I know what ya' mean, love. Ay, next time we're out and it happens, I'll back you up if you punch him. I'll say it was self defense. I mean, technically, it would be, right? Some of 'em are so persistent. You get his name?" She laughed at what India said, nodding slightly. "Probably. There's an app for everything. Too bad you're not as flexible as me - granted I don't know how much trouble that would save ya'. Boys are a bit of a phenomena, y'know? They ain't limited to nothing.  Lesbian? Aw, fuck it, they'll still try their luck."

[mansiongirl]

say no to friendship, am i right || pip&reika

[piplundgren-deactivated20140915]

Most of Reiko’s input came across in a series of “blahblahblahs” as Pip dashed back behind the counter to take the lavender off the boil and strain it, rolling their eyes while they could not be seen. To be honest they had little interest in what flowers the shop could use, or flowers in general. They just dived at the opportunity to display a little smugness. “I’ll recommend you as a new gardener to the boss, eh?” The comment was not particularly snide, but amongst the students of Saint Dominic’s, many too wealthy for their own good,  gardeners were regarded with little respect. 

Ducking under the counter, they fetched a large tub of dairy free ice cream and scooped out more than enough for Reiko alone - they had a fondness for this drink, and what she left Pip would surely finish off. They listened to the girl’s drop in volume, and a genuine smile came across her face, somewhat gloating and emphasized by the question. Defying people’s expectations of themself was pleasurable, it always had been, and the fact they could do so in counteraction to what felt like an obvious attack was even more so. 

"I started working here around six months into my first year," Lavender tea poured over the ice cream, they rolled up their sleeves to begin squeezing the lemon halves precut and refrigerated. "A rebellion against my Mum. Her articles always degrade the working class - thought she’d hate nothing more than her kid spending der time at a prestigious school working for minimum wage." They paused in squeezing for a second, cocking their head to the left and examining Reiko with a smirk. "What made ya think I wouldn’t work?"

[mansiongirl]

Despite being apt to pick up on hidden meanings and underlying hatreds, Reika didn't notice, or perhaps decided not to notice, the possible interpretation of what Pip said. Instead, with all seriousness, she replied, "you would? Man, that would be r-" Suddenly picking up on the semi-jokey nature of it, she was careful to choose how she finished her sentence. "-radical," she said, which didn't help, but she was sure to add on a little laugh at the end, and of course proceeded to try her best to cover up her slip-up. "I'm sure they could use the help."

Placing a hand on her cheek, Reika felt the need to check if she had started blushing - something she was quick to do these days, especially when flustered or caught off guard. It worked in an awful way really, seeing as often people thought she was blushing in one of those "oh, you're so cute and you're talking to me" flirty kinda ways, when that was not the case in the slightest. She blushed when she couldn't speak right, when she said something she thought was particularly stupid, and once in a while when she was complimented on her plants, or if anyone paid any acknowledgment to them.

Reika smiled a small, half smile at their explanation, thinking it was sorta sweet, in a way. In a weird way. Not in a way she appreciated, of course. Scrunching up her nose, she turned her gazer from Pip to the tea being poured, interested by the sight. It did look fairly good, she had to give them that. "Mm," she made a noise, shrugging her shoulders halfheartedly. Now she had to figure out a way to phrase what she was about to say. "Guess you just struck me as one o' those slack offs, ya know?" She cleared her throat. Full blush. She was like the titanic, just hit a fuckin' iceberg. "Sinking -- uh," she shook her head, realizing she'd been thinking too much about ships and not enough about what she was about to say. "Feeling. Uh, strong feeling, I mean. I had a strong feeling you didn't care much for puttin' effort in. You shake off school a lot, right? You ain't tryin'." She bit down on her lip - massive, raging failure.

[ughmerican-apparel]

[indianmonsoons]

Hmm, I might go back to this. The blue did serve my desire to be a mermaid better… Decisions, decisions…

[mansiongirl]

Practically twins.

[indianmonsoons]

Anything You Say, Can And Will Be Held Against You || India & Reika

[indianmonsoons]

India’s brown eyes that were heavily lined with liner scanned around her friend’s dorm room. I swear to god, if she gets one more plant, she’s going to turn into one, she thought to herself as she watched Reika carefully walk around all of the plants. She didn’t know how she did it, she felt as if it was a key to insanity. “I guess your oxygen is better than anyone else’s with all these plants, huh?” She grinned at her friend, putting her sunglasses on her head. 

"Okay, first things first. You just held up seven fingers instead of five. So you’re clearly still kinda drunk," she sat up in Reika’s bed, "secondly, don’t try shit at parties. Don’t mix shit. For sure way to get yourself killed." She moved Reika’s blankets aside and folded them. "Thirdly, you can’t just go to a party without me, that is totally against the rules of feminism or something. I was in my dorm room, bored out of my mind, and you were out having fun… without me. Totally unacceptable." 

India laughed softly at Reika’s solution to the problem, “Dude, you can’t just sleep through the day. Stop drinking so heavily on school nights, you’re gonna get caught, and kicked out. And then I’ll have no one to bitch with.” She got up from the bed and helped Reika tidy a bit, “I swear to god, you’re going to lose yourself in this trainwreck. I say that with all of the love in the world.” 

[mansiongirl]

"True that," Reika grinned proudly, puffing out her chest as she stopped dressing for a moment to admire her plants. "Still going strong. Hey, I gotta live up to the part of president, y'know? What's a gardening club without a crazy plant person? I'll tell you what: nothing," she joked, flashing India a smile and letting out a small giggle before returning to her (usually morning) routine. After pulling on her leggings, she turned to the mirror that fit in one of the spare spaces on her desk, grabbing some makeup supplies from one of the many bags that lined the second shelf of her desk.

"But mixing drinks is half the fun," she protested, pouting as she applied some killer red lipstick. "And you know I would've invited you on a normal night. I thought you had some text in class today - didn't wanna make you late or anything. But next time, I promise, I will give you a proper heads up. Scout's honor." She smiled widely, moving on to her eyeliner, which at this point took less than a few seconds to apply. She was happy to be past the stage of what-the-fuck-am-I-doing in terms of eyeliner.

"Come on, you know I'm usually smart about these things. Besides, I'm a fricken' god of a student. I turn in all my assignments on time, and usually get good marks. I'm solid. I'm golden. I'm on top of the world." She glanced around her room. "My room on the other hand..." She trailed off, scrunching up her nose as she placed a large pile of clothes from the last week or so in her hamper. "God damn, I should get some laundry done." She paused for a moment before looking over at India. "How are you, my love? Get good, proper rest last night?"

[indianmonsoons]

Anything You Say, Can And Will Be Held Against You || India & Reika

[indianmonsoons]

India looked at Reika from head to toe when she opened the door. She pressed her lips in a tight line in order to keep herself from laughing. The bright red smudge on her lower lip and her hair all over the place was the breaker for India, causing her to burst into a fit of giggles. “Oh, sweetheart,” she whispered dramatically as she followed her into the dorm. 

She picked up some of Reika’s clothes from the night before, putting them in her hamper. “It’s almost six o’clock in the evening, have you been sleeping all day?” She looked at Reika up and down again, just shaking her head again. “What the hell did you get yourself into? What did you drink?” 

India sat down on Reika’s bed, completely taking her spot, and completely not caring that she did so. She stretched out on her bed, just watching Reika from her spot on the bed. 

[mansiongirl]

Sticking her tongue out, Reika turned towards the drawers of her dresser, digging through them mercilessly. Her entire room was an absolute mess, save for the perfectly lined up plants that covered her windowsill, desk, floor and dresser. She was a bit obsessive about collecting them - not one had died on her yet, though, so she saw no harm in keeping the trend of one new plant per week.

Of course, this made it a bit difficult to navigate the dorm room. She was pretty quick by now, tiptoeing around them all even in her dreary, worn down state. She took a random shirt and a pair of black, comfortable leggings in her hands and began changing right in front of her guest.

"Five shots," she said, holding up seven fingers with a smirk. "Some shitty raspberry-flavored vodka. Total shit. I don't think I should ever drink without you again. I'll be dead by the time I get out of here." She glanced back over her shoulder at India, raising a brow. "Six? Shit. Yeah, I just woke up. I'll have to grab the classwork from friends, then, I guess."

[mansiongirl]

say no to friendship, am i right || pip&reika

[piplundgren-deactivated20140915]

"You’re part of dat plant club, right?" They made no attempt to hide any patronising tones that may have came across in that sentence. After all, she certainly didn’t hold back. They could already feel the pull of spite in their stomach as they stretched for the jar of lavender sat on the top shelf. Sometimes they wondered if they were best wearing heels for work. "Surely you’d know dat lavender can grow anywhere, right?" As they spoke they twiddled with the jar lid - "presto," they muttered when it popped open - and added the purple stalks to a pot of hot water, determined to display a casual grace that proved that yes, they could create concoctions like this with ease.

As the lavender stewed and filled the Cafe with it’s delicious and delicate scene they moved from behind the counter, and pulled a chair out at one of the few tables indoors. They couldn’t afford to be pathetic about their little dislike and begrudgedly serve them; several times they had been employee of the month and this establishment, and they refused to gain a bad review for begrudging service. “Would you like to sit while you wait? I’m sure you enjoy having a break here and there.” 

[mansiongirl]

"Demeter's Darlings," she said, making a point of being proud. She fingered the edge of the shirt she was wearing, trying to think of something clever to say. "Sure," she said, mentally hitting herself for saying something so friggin' lame. "I mean, I'm not an encyclopedia of plant facts or anything," she said, feeling the need to defend herself. "You know, speakin' of plants - your store could do with a few outside. It's looking real sparse out there. Bit sad, really. Maybe put a few flowering maples," she said with a grin. "You know, they're the cute orange flowers that grow along with the giant leafs."

Reika glanced at the chair, pausing a moment before giving in. There was no real way to be uppity about that sort of thing - she could tell Pip was alluding to her earlier comment, but she was still being at least semi-polite. In order to get rid of the feeling she owed them anything in the slightest, Reika took the seat and responded as politely as possible. "Thanks," she said, albeit somewhat quietly. "How long have you worked here? I thought you didn't like, y'know, the whole work thing?" There it was, right back to their usual manners.

[indianmonsoons]

Anything You Say, Can And Will Be Held Against You || India & Reika

India moved her hot pink hair out of her face, swiftly moving it up into a messy bun. She trudged across campus, her combat boots heavy on the earth as she walked. Her cheeks were a light pink with the brief rage that had swept over her. She was so unbelievably tired of shitty people who thought it was okay to talk however they felt like it to her. Tired of it. She was not some walking doormat for everyone to wipe their feet on, and she made sure that they were aware of that whenever she stepped foot into a room. It was tiring being a commanding female all the time, but it was worth it. 

She finally reached Reika’s room, she knocked three times on the door, leaning against the frame when she didn’t answer right away.

"Reikaaaaaaa," she called, knocking on the door again. 

[mansiongirl]

Truthfully, Reika had just woken up. After a semi-heavy night of drinking the day before, she had slept in past all four of her alarms - whih no doubt drove her roommate up the wall, but she wouldn't no, considering she seemed to have woken up hours after her. Lazily pulling some pants on, Reika groaned as she made her way to the door, making sure to be extra loud with her annoyance. "Shut up," she whined, opening the door without checking on how she looked. Her hair was all over the place, a big static-y mess, and her lipstick from the night before had managed to wipe almost completely off, but mainatined a bright red smudge right below her lower lip. All in all, she looked like an utter train wreck. But this was India, and she knew she wouldn't care.

All she had to do was open the door, really, seeing as India would probably know she was allowed in. After doing that, she quickly turned on her heel - a bit wobbily - and started towards her dresser to find some real clothes. "What are ya' doin' up? It's like... what time is it?"